Middlesex Co., Mass. 13 Oct. 8 - 1874 Shot fronted as steadily as a woodcock. Striking into the large meadows Shot came to a most beautiful point but before we got within range two snipe bore wild & went off unshot at. As the dog still held his point I hurried up just in time to knock over a third bird which got up in front of him. Further on we started three snipe (two of them marked down birds) and I bagged one of them which B. started & wounded slightly. On the way back we went through the lower swamps again & I bagged 1 Rail & S. & B. another, between them. Total M.B. 3 snipe & 4 rails. S. & B. 1 rail - 8 birds. The snipe were all very wild and flew extremely fast. Passed a half hour or so sitting on the margin of Pont pond admiring its branches. Saw only one duck an A. O'Boone Oct. 9 Clear and a fine day with N.W. wind. Started down for the swamps at 9.30 taking Bart, as I had has injured one of his legs slightly. Beat the upper meadows first but saw only a brace of rail both of which I bagged. On the way back I started and shot a coot (Julia) and also put up three snipe all of which son out of distance; marking down on of them I followed him and catching sight of him over a brush had a fine opportunity of watch him numbered. He was sitting upright on a little mud